U.S. patent number 10,391,666 [Application Number 12/968,729] was granted by the patent office on 2019-08-27 for machining device for machining a workpiece by means of at least one fluid jet.
This patent grant is currently assigned to MICROWATERJET AG. The grantee listed for this patent is Franz Helmhart, Walter Maurer. Invention is credited to Franz Helmhart, Walter Maurer.
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United States Patent |
10,391,666 |
Maurer , et al. |
August 27, 2019 |
Machining device for machining a workpiece by means of at least one
fluid jet
Abstract
A machining device for machining a workpiece with at least one
fluid jet includes a workpiece support (20) for supporting the
workpiece and a catch basin (29) for dissipating the energy of the
at least one fluid jet after its penetration of the workpiece. The
catch basin (29) is arranged in a free-standing manner in relation
to the workpiece support (20) in order to avoid the transmission of
vibrations from the catch basin to the workpiece support.
Inventors: |
Maurer; Walter (Oftringen,
CH), Helmhart; Franz (Langenthal, CH) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maurer; Walter
Helmhart; Franz |
Oftringen
Langenthal |
N/A
N/A |
CH
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
MICROWATERJET AG (Aarwangen,
CH)
|
Family
ID: |
42062262 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/968,729 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20110146467 A1 |
Jun 23, 2011 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Dec 17, 2009 [CH] |
|
|
1936/09 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26F
3/008 (20130101); B26D 7/00 (20130101); Y10T
83/364 (20150401); B26F 3/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
7/00 (20060101); B26F 3/00 (20060101); B26D
7/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;83/22,24,53,177 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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|
|
|
|
8518255 |
|
Sep 1985 |
|
DE |
|
0927597 |
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Jul 1999 |
|
EP |
|
Other References
Swiss Search Report, dated Apr. 6, 2010, from corresponding Swiss
application. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Phong H
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young & Thompson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A machining device for machining a workpiece by means of at
least one fluid jet, comprising a workpiece support for supporting
the workpiece, and a catch basin for dissipating the energy of the
at least one fluid jet after its penetration of the workpiece,
wherein the catch basin is arranged in a self-supporting manner in
relation to the workpiece support in order to avoid the
transmission of vibrations from the catch basin to the workpiece
support, and wherein the catch basin includes side walls, which
extend vertically from a bottom of the catch basin beyond a level
at which the workpiece support is located such that the workpiece
is located within the catch basin, below an uppermost surface of
said side walls, thereby allowing the catch basin to be filled with
water up to the workpiece.
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting
head, which is displaceably arranged, the at least one fluid jet is
discharged from the cutting head in the machining process.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the cutting head is
movably arranged in three translational axes.
4. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a machine
support, on which the cutting head is displaceably arranged,
wherein the workpiece support is fixedly connected to the machine
support.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein for its exchange, the
workpiece support is detachably connected to the machine
support.
6. The device according to claim 4, further comprising fastening
elements, which are fastened to the machine support and on which
the workpiece support is resting.
7. The device according claim 6, wherein the catch basin has
passages, through which the fastening elements extend.
8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising seals for
sealing the passages.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a machining device for machining a
workpiece by means of at least one fluid jet, comprising a
workpiece support for supporting the workpiece, and a catch basin
for dissipating the energy of the at least one fluid jet after its
penetration of the workpiece.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In operation, the machining device produces a fluid jet, e.g. a
waterjet, which penetrates a material that is to be cut and thus
divides the latter into two or more parts. After penetrating the
material, the waterjet has a certain residual energy that is
dissipated in a catch basin (also called "jet catcher") that is
generally filled with water.
While the residual energy is dissipated in the catch basin, the
latter may start to vibrate. The devices that are available on the
market are designed as a unit where the catch basin and the
workpiece support are fixedly connected to a frame. FIG. 5 shows
such a device of the prior art with a frame construction 10' to
which catch basin 29' and workpiece support 20' for a workpiece 21'
are fixed. Due to this construction, the vibrations produced by
catch basin 29' are transmitted via frame construction 10' to
workpiece support 20' and ultimately to workpiece 21'. This makes
an accurate machining of workpiece 21' difficult.
It is also known in the art to fasten the workpiece support
directly to the catch basin and to arrange this unit separately
from the remainder of the device. This construction is even more
disadvantageous with regard to vibration transmission as the
vibrations of the catch basin generated in operation are directly
transmitted to the workpiece support. Still other influences such
as vibrations of the floor may be transmitted to the workpiece
and/or the catch basin along with the workpiece support and the
workpiece that is to be cut may even be dislocated from the
remainder of the device. Overall, undesirable machining
inaccuracies and thus a loss in quality are the result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a machining
device that allows an accurate machining of workpieces. This is
accomplished with the machining device of the invention.
In the machining device of the invention, the catch basin is
arranged in a free-standing manner in relation to the workpiece
support. Due to this decoupled arrangement, the transmission of
vibrations from the catch basin to the workpiece support can be
prevented. In this manner, a workpiece is machinable more
accurately.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further specific constructive features and their advantages will
become apparent from the following description and the drawings of
an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a machining device according to
the invention,
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the device in plane III-III of FIG.
2,
FIG. 4 shows a detail view from FIG. 3, and
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a machining device of the prior
art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machining device has a machine
support 10 in the form of a first frame construction standing on
the floor via support feet 10a. The latter are provided with holes
allowing to screw first frame construction 10 to the floor. On a
displaceable bridge 11, a cutting head 12 is arranged that is
displaceable transversally to bridge 11. The cutting head 12 is
thus movable in the plane. In addition, the cutting head 12 is
displaceable vertically to the plane and is thus movable in at
least three independent axes. The machining device is equipped with
the usual components for producing a fluid jet in operation, e.g. a
waterjet, which cuts a material layer along a contour as it is
discharged from cutting head 12.
The machining device comprises a workpiece support 20 on which a
workpiece 21 to be machined is supported. In the present exemplary
embodiment, workpiece support 20 is provided in its inner area with
a cutout 20a, thus forming a frame which supports the workpiece 21
at its edge.
As shown in FIG. 3 also, the machining device is provided with
retaining means 22 for retaining workpiece 21. Retaining means 22
are e.g. in the form of clamps by means of which workpiece 21 is
pressed against workpiece support 20.
Within the first frame construction 10, a catch basin 29 is
arranged. The latter comprises a second frame construction 30
standing on the floor via feet 30a. The latter are provided with
holes for screwing second frame construction 30 to the floor.
Feet 30a of the second frame construction 30 as well as support
feet 10a of the first frame construction 10 may be provided with
damper elements so that vibrations are not transmitted between
frame construction 30 or 10 and the floor or are transmitted only
in a damped manner.
Catch basin 29 has a sufficient depth for allowing an efficient
dissipation of the residual energy of the fluid jet, which it has
after its penetration of the workpiece 21 being cut. The four side
walls as well as the bottom of second frame construction 30 are
closed by respective plates 31 so that a container which is open on
the top is formed. The side walls 31 of catch basin 29 extend
beyond the level at which the workpiece support 20 is located. This
allows the catch basin 29 to be filled with water up to workpiece
21. Thus, the fluid jet, when passing the underside of the
workpiece 21, enters directly the water body.
As also shown in the detail view of FIG. 4, two opposite side walls
31 of catch basin 29 are provided with passages 32 through which
respective fastening elements 40 extend. The diameter of passage 32
is sufficiently large to avoid that the respective fastening
element 40 contacts side wall 31 of catch basin 29, not even when
catch basin 29 and machine support 10 vibrate reciprocally in
operation.
Each fastening element 40 is in the form of a bolt whose inner end
forms a bearing surface 40a and whose outer end is provided with a
flange 40b. Workpiece support 20 rests on bearing surface 40a and
is connected thereto via a detachable connection 41, e.g. a screw
connection. The outer end of bolt 40 is passed through an opening
in first frame construction 10 and fastened thereto by flange
40b.
In the present exemplary embodiment, passage 32 is surrounded by a
tube portion 33 that is fastened to side wall 31 of catch basin 29.
A seal 35 e.g. in the form of a collar made of rubber is provided
for, the ends of the collar enclosing tube portion 33 and bolt
40.
For the assembly of the machining device, catch basin 29 and the
unit formed by components 10, 11, 12, 20, 22 are positioned
separately from each other and--if required--fastened to the
floor.
In operation, catch basin 29 is filled with water. Workpiece 21
rests on workpiece support 20 and is secured by retaining means 22.
The contour along which workpiece 21 is cut lies within cutout 20a
of workpiece support 20 so that the fluid jet exiting the underside
of workpiece 21 may pass through workpiece support 20 unhindered
and propagate in the water of catch basin 29. There the residual
energy of the fluid jet is absorbed, which may cause vibrations of
catch basin 29.
The actual machining device with machine support 10 and
displaceable cutting head 12 forms together with fixedly connected
workpiece support 20 a separate unit that is decoupled from catch
basin 29. Consequently, catch basin 29 is free-standing and
arranged independently from workpiece support 20. Due to this
arrangement, vibrations of catch basin 29 that are caused by the
dissipation of the residual energy or alternatively by other
influences such as possible vibrations of the floor cannot be
transmitted to workpiece support 20 and therefore neither to
workpiece 21. As a result, the fluid jet is precisely displaceable
with respect to workpiece 21 so that a very accurate machining is
possible.
Seals 35 between the two frame constructions 10 and 30 prevent that
water may exit through passages 32.
The isolated arrangement of the catch basin 29 from the workpiece
support 20 is applicable in various fluid jet machining techniques
in order to achieve accurate machining, e.g. in pure water cutting,
abrasive cutting where abrasive particles are added to the water,
and/or in cutting by means of other types of liquids.
From the preceding description, numerous modifications are
accessible to one skilled in the art without departing from the
scope of protection of the invention that is defined by the
claims.
Thus it may be contemplated to use more than one cutting head in
the machining device in order to make the machining process more
efficient.
Instead of the four bolts 40, other types of fastening means may be
contemplated for fastening workpiece support 20 to machine support
10.
In catch basin 29 additional obstacles such as baffle plates or the
like may be provided in order to allow a more efficient dissipation
of the residual energy of the fluid jet.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to
particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and
modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled
in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention
be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the
appended claims.
* * * * *